And the search is ongoing. One Australian official said it best, we're not searching for a needle in a haystack. We're still trying to define where the haystack is. There are currently 12 aircraft and one vessel on site. Four more on the way this morning. The airlines now offering the families compensation of $5,000 per victim. As the search really changed in its technical precision, the rough weather and that very remote part of the planet is causing officials to call off the search today. ABC's David Kerley following all of this from day one had all the developments overnight. David, good morning. Good morning to you, josh. An armada of ships on its way but that statement that all is lost changes this effort dramatically from a search and rescue effort to a search and hopefully recovery of the remains of flight 370 someplace at the end of these two arrows. Now it's the weather that will keep aircraft from searching. After so many spottings of possible debris there was hope this morning that something would be recovered. Still, nothing. With the Malaysians admitting the 777 is at the bottom of the Indian ocean. 17, 18 days for anyone to survive that long is extremely remote. Reporter: The Malaysians say the flight which had been in the air for 7 1/2 hours most likely went down just minutes after its last ping with the satellite at 8:11 in the morning. These few clues gleaned from the satellite ping, fuel on board, Floyd patterns and comparing to flights the same day has led to the conclusion this plane crashed into the rugged Indian ocean. We can't give you a definitive "X" marks the spot but a rank area in which to look which is what the world's navies and aircraft are doing. Reporter: While aircraft and invests search this area for debris, it is 350 to 700 miles to the west, these two plot lines that most likely spots where the majority of wreckage is on the ocean floor. Searchers will create grids over these two areas and then listen for those black box pingers. We're not searching for a needle in the haystack. We're still trying to define where it is. Reporter: It's on its way. It will be put on board an Australian vessel but won't even leave port until April 4th. Hear that, April 4th talking ten days from now. That's how this has changed to a much more technical methodical search. The urgency is gone since everybody is believed lost. This grid and this is where those pinger locators will be under the water trying to find those black boxes, robin. Okay, David.

This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.

Now Playing: Two Torn Up Doctor's Notes Found in Germanwings Co-Pilot's Home

Now Playing: {{itm.title}}

{"id":23048924,"title":"Weather Suspends Malaysian Plane Search","duration":"3:00","description":"Eighteen days into the search for the missing jet, no signs have been found.","url":"/GMA/video/malaysia-plane-weather-suspends-eighteen-day-search-missing-23048924","section":"GMA","mediaType":"Default"}